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` being put in at the top of the charger at UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIcE.'

THOMAS W. GILLETT, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN MATTHEWS.

APPARATUS FOR CORKING- BOTTLES.

To all` whom 15 may concern.'

Be it known that I, THOMAS WV. GILLETT, of New Haven, county of New Haven, and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Bottling Mineral l/Vaters or Liquids Under Pressure and I. do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and eXact description of the same, reference being made to the annexed drawing, making a part of this specification, which is an elevation of my machine.

My invention is for an improved safety guard to be used in machines for bottling aerated water, as soda water, mead, and all other liquids bottled under pressure. In bottling liquid under great pressure it frequently occurs that the bottles burst and the bottler is liable to receive injury from the flying fragments of the glass. In my invention the movement of the operator which brings the filling socket upon the neck of the bottle also raises a screen around the bottle itself, so that should it burst the fragments will be retained within said screen and do no damage.

A represents the usual table of a corking machine, at (a) is the charging socket. This is so constructed that it can move up and down a short distance by placing the foot upon the treadle (ZJ). Before bringing it down a bottle to. be filled is placed upon the stand as seen at (c) the mouth of the charger (a) is then brought so as to inclose the bottle as seen at (al). A cork (d) and the point of the corking rod (e) brought down the bottle may be filled by opening the cock (f) from which `a flexible pipe leads to the cistern or fount and the bottle iilled and corked in the usual and common manner. To protect the person y operating the machine I apply the screen B.

This is a cylinder of perforated metal large enough to inclose the bottle. An annular hole is cut in the table at the spot where the bottle is placed for filling, through which the cylindrical screen may play. The bottle stands upon a circular plate or base firmly secured to the table by the arms (i), the guard screen has two slots cut down its sides to allow the arms to pass through and permit the movement of the screen. It is intended that the moment the operator puts his foot upon the treadle (b) to bring the charging socket upon the bottle that theV cylindrical screen A shall rise up through the annular space in the table and surround down of t-he charging socket (a) throws up the end of the `lever (7c) `upon which the safety screw `B rests, and that rises and screens the bottle as seenat B. The bottle being filled and corked as before mentioned. The moment the operator takes his foot off the treadle (Z9) the charging socket rises to release the bottle andthe safety screen falls below the leve-l of the table; and leaves the bottle ready for removal.

I have described the screen as being cylindrical and rising through the table, but I do not wish to confine myself to this precise arrangement, as the screen may be divided into halves or other portions, said portions being connected so as to close at the proper moment for screening the bottle and opened to allow that to be removed, by the action of proper links, etc., joining the crossbar of the bottling socket or other suitable parts.

What I claim as of my own invention, yand desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

Combining the safety cylinder or screen, with the cross bar of the charging socket or other proper part of the bottling machine so that the said screen will surround the bottle at the same time that the charging socket is brought over the neck of the bottle and keep it there until the filling and corking has been completed. Substantially in the samemanner and for the purpose set forth. y

THOMAS W. GrILLETT.V Witnesses:

CHARLES IvEs, S. W. BUNNELL. 

